It is the custom in Louisiana to eat cabbage on New Year's Day so you will have wealth throughout the year. (I cook mine with bacon, onions and a little wine.) This was a custom brought to the United States by the Germans in the 1700's. Which brings me to the rest of my story.
When the first German settlers came to Louisiana and settled on what is now called the German Coast in the Parishes (counties) of St. Charles, St. John and St.James, they cleared the forests and set about farming food crops and livestock. They brought their produce by flatboats and canoes downriver to feed the City of New Orleans. Had it not been for the German immigrants, the French people who settled New Orleans would have starved.
During World War II several camps for German prisoners of war were located in the parishes of the German Coast in Louisiana. The local people were very kind to the prisoners and to this day some still communicate.
Following Hurricane Katrina the editor of a newspaper chain in northern Germany remembered all of the kindnesses shown his people by the Americans and began a fundraiser. To date he has raised over $158,000 for New Orleans. Of that amount City Park has received a much needed $38,000. Once again the Germans are helping save the City of New Orleans. Thank you very much.
My mother was German and a kinder person you will never meet.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU. I ate my cabbage so I will be wealthy all year, for sure wealthy in friends.